Bonus Episode with Brit Allen

Hey friends! Welcome to another Indie Author Spotlight Bonus Episode! Hopefully you read the feature interview I did with Brit over on The Writer's Workout website, where I'm a volunteer. If not, you should go check it out because Brit shared some great things and you'll wanna read all about their work. Do it now, do it at the end of this bonus, but whatever you do... go and read that interview on the IAS page!

What does your writing ritual look like? 

I don’t have so much of a ritual as a chaotic energy that drives me. In the past, I just let the creative flow take over whenever it wanted and poured my heart out onto the page. The problem with that, however, is that it’s unsustainable, especially when you’re busy or stressed because of other responsibilities. Every artist knows the creative flow is the best part of the work, but we can’t always get there, and we can’t always rely on it. This is why, recently, I told myself I must write/edit at least five minutes every day. This is a sustainable way to keep moving, especially on days when I’m exhausted. It’s doable and accessible, no matter how busy or tired I am. It helps get the juices flowing, and, if I have the time, I’ll often do more than five minutes of work. 

At the end of the day, writing, for me, is play. Success is defined by how much fun I have with a project, so, while I do want to establish some discipline, I never want it to feel like a chore. I want it to be something I look forward to doing, not dread. 

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received as an Indie Author? 

“You should just use AI.” No. AI and art should never have been combined. If I have AI write my story, it’s no longer my story. There is no “me” involved. I write, not just for the output, but for the joy of creating. Part of the joy is the struggle. Using AI would take so much of that creative joy away. It might be faster, but at what cost? Besides, if I don’t take the time to write it, why should anyone take the time to read it? 

What’s your go to book, movie or musical artist when you need some inspiration (or just a break from the keyboard)? Why? 

This is a hard question! I don’t even know where to start! It honestly depends on what I’m working on and what kind of inspiration I need. For my poetry book, Haunted House, a big inspiration was Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix, and Florence & the Machine’s song, “Haunted House.” In fact, I was listening to it on the treadmill when I came up with the first poem! It was originally going to be a standalone poem that I called “Haunted House,” but then more ideas came to me, building out the architecture of the house until it bloomed into a full story. I retitled that initial poem “Prologue,” and it’s the first poem in the book. 

Music was a huge source of inspiration for Haunted House overall, which is why I have a playlist of all the songs that inspired me that you can check out here. 

If you could snap your fingers and be “known” for one piece of your writing, what would it be? Is it something already published? Or is it something in your heart you’ve not yet written? 

There’s an Adult Fantasy trilogy I’m planning to write, and that’s what I want to be known for someday. It’s the core of my storytelling heart, and an idea I’ve had since I was fifteen. It’s changed a lot since then but is still true to my fifteen-year-old self’s imagination. I don’t want to say too much about it yet, but I will say that it has dragons. So, you know, what else do you need? 

Any other tidbits you wanna share? 

Support independent authors, especially your local ones! Make sure you help promote them, share their work, and leave reviews! Boosting their visibility is one of the best ways you can support the Indie Author community. 

Do you have a newsletter you want people to sign-up for? Link it here: 

I don’t have a newsletter yet, but I am thinking about making one. Until then, just follow me on Instagram, please!